Binay pledges P65 B for free uniforms, school supplies

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay has promised to allocate P65 billion every year to provide free uniforms, books and school supplies to some 20 million public school students nationwide.

Joey Salgado, campaign communications director of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said this would be part of the education program of Binay if elected president.

“Vice President Binay believes and will always believe that education is the greatest social equalizer. Education helped the Vice President rise from adversity. He sees education as a key component in addressing poverty,” said Salgado.

“For him, quality public education will be his legacy for our youth,” he added.

According to Salgado, Binay will ensure the completion of the construction of at least 50,000 new classrooms in 2016.

He will also strengthen scholarship and student loan programs, as well as subsidies and incentives to underprivileged students.

Salgado said the Vice President would tap private partners – as well as the President’s Social Fund – to fund the construction of new classrooms.

Local government units, meanwhile, will be asked to use their special education funds to hire teachers and fund classroom repairs.

The opposition party has not officially issued a stand on the government’s K to 12 program, but Binay earlier said that he would review the policy immediately upon assuming office.

Various groups are against the policy, saying the government is not prepared to implement the program.